SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected EnvironmentFire History and Firefighting ResourcesHistorically, fire in the area of PTA was most likely rare and of little significance, limited to volcanicallystarted fires and occasional lightning ignitions. Military use for live-fire exercises and targetpractice has increased ignition frequency dramatically and resulted in numerous small fires, though itappears that much of the threat to endangered species populations is a result of off post ignitions.However, PTA is particularly susceptible to fire for numerous reasons (USARHAW and 25 th ID [L]2001b). First, there is a history of ordnance-induced fires because several ranges are used year-roundfor live firing of a wide variety of ordnance. Also, there is a high risk of wildfire ignition from the useof aerial flares and similar pyrotechnics. Since July 1990, over 8,000 acres have been recorded asburned. Of these, over 7,700 acres or 91 percent of all acres burned were burned by fires caused bylightning, arson, or carelessly discarded cigarettes and the largest of these started off Army lands andlater burned onto PTA (USARHAW and 25 th ID [L] 2003). Fire suppression is difficult in the impactarea’s rugged habitat, and UXO makes it difficult for helicopters to drop water in the impact area.Vehicles with catalytic converters, which pose a potential fire threat, are used on PTA. Highly flammablefuels and unique weather conditions also lead to high ignition rates. However, fires may alsooriginate from other sources, such as arson, cigarettes, or campfires, within or adjacent to training areas.Military live-fire activities start many of the fires in the ordnance impact area (USARHAW and 25 thID [L] 2001b). Most of these fires and other fires that start on PTA are prevented from leaving theboundaries of the installation; however, some fires have burned onto adjacent lands. Also, fires cancome onto the installation from off-post. The PTA Fire Chief is responsible for ensuring that wildlandfire responses are in accordance with the IWFMP (USARHAW and 25 th ID [L] 2001b). Four remoteweather stations on PTA are used for fire indexing. An auxiliary wildland firefighting force providesan initial attack on a fire before the fire department arrives. The Hawaii County Fire Department,HDLNR, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park assist with wildland fire suppression.3.1.4 Cultural ResourcesCultural resources are defined as historic properties, cultural items, archaeological resources, sacredsites, or collections subject to protection under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), theArchaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), the Native American Graves Protection and RepatriationAct (NAGPRA), Executive Order (EO) 13007, and the guidelines on Curation of FederallyOwned and Administered Collections (36 CFR Part 79). Cultural resources to be considered includeprehistoric and historic archaeological sites, historic buildings and structures, and Native American orNative Hawaiian traditional resources. In the source documents for this analysis, Native Hawaiiantraditional resources are discussed as areas of traditional interest (ATIs), and Native American traditionalresources in Alaska and Colorado are discussed as properties of traditional, religious, or culturalsignificance (PTRCSs). These categories include traditional resources, use areas, and sacredsites that are potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as traditionalcultural properties (TCPs). Principal issues to be considered are the impacts of renovation, construction,training exercises, exploded ordnance, and changes in access on prehistoric and historic archaeologicalsites; historic buildings and structures; and properties of traditional, religious, and cultural significance.These include intrusion of new buildings or structures within or near historic sites or districtsthat are out of character with the historic setting or characteristics of the site or district, renovationor demolition of historic buildings, ground disturbance at archaeological sites, removal of objectsor artifacts from eligible sites, increased access to archaeologically or traditionally sensitive areas, orrestriction of access to sacred sites. This section briefly discusses known cultural resources for thethree bases under consideration as alternatives.February 2008 3–33 2/25th SBCT Final EIS